From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2006-05-25 17:06:37 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] gingivitis
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
It's been noticed for some time that humans can possibly get heart disease =
from gingivitis but not exactly how.
Meanwhile, it has been known that certain diseases in ferrets make the ferr=
et far more inclined toward developing gingivitis, so that makes the pictur=
e in ferrets more complicated because there winds up being the "which came =
first" problem in one situation, and, of course, sometimes medical problems=
just occur simultaneously.
Now, more is known about gingivitis in humans. Here is the press release f=
rom Eurekalert!:
START QUOTE
Public release date: 24-May-2006
Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology =
Genes discovered that allow gum disease bacterium to invade arteries
ORLANDO =96 May 24, 2006 -- Researchers have identified the genes in gum-di=
sease bacteria that allow them to invade and infect human arterial cells, o=
ffering one possible explanation for a perceived connection between gum dis=
ease and heart disease. Scientists from the University of Florida, Gainesvi=
lle, present their findings today at the 106th General Meeting of the Ameri=
can Society for Microbiology in Orlando, Florida.
"Aside from lifestyle and genetic factors, there is increasing evidence tha=
t bacterial infections may play a role in heart disease. Porphyromas gingiv=
itis, an important bacterium that causes gum disease, is also linked to car=
diovascular disease. In this study we have identified and studied four gene=
s of P. gingivalis that allow it to infect and survive inside artery cells,=
" says Paulo Rodrigues, a researcher on the study.
Rodrigues and his colleagues had previously discovered that P. gingivalis h=
ad the ability to invade and survive inside human artery cells. In this stu=
dy they examined the role four different genes play in this ability. They c=
reated four strains of the bacterium, each with a different gene mutated to=
disable it, and tested their ability to invade and survived in artery cell=
s compared to a fully functioning strain of P. gingivalis.
"Our study showed that all four mutated strains were defective in invasion =
of the artery cells and that their ability to survive inside of the cells w=
as diminished. These results show that these four genes play a role in the =
invasion and survival of P. gingivalis inside artery cells," says Rodrigues=
. "The knowledge of how this pathogenic bacterium interacts with artery cel=
ls is important and may lead to the development of therapeutics and diagnos=
tic tools for the detection and possibly prevention of heart diseases cause=
d by this association."
END QUOTE
So, some questions now (which I can't even begin to check into until we get=
net back and then only if it comes back in a timely enough fashion to give=
me spare time -- just part of our entire area gradually having cables repl=
aced) become ones like:
1. Are these premises correct and applicable? Notice that it is still not=
even certain that these infections do create heart disease in humans but t=
he evidence that they are a causative factor is increasing, especially for =
this one bacterium. (That will take further studies by the experts while w=
e all wait.)
2. Do ferrets get Porphyromas gingivitis?
3. If so, do ferrets get the version of P. gingivitis with all four of tho=
se genetic functions?
4. Do any other bacteria function similarly?
5. Do ferrets get those?
6. Do they infect and survive within *ferret* arterial cells as well as in=
gum tissue?
7. Are there other routes that can be proven to exist?
Meanwhile, when past posts in the FHL were checked maybe a month or two ago=
there are many warnings about gingivitis but few actual cases, and the num=
ber of cases over time decreased. Most of them appear to be associated wit=
h long term use of softened diets, and that agrees with the info in _Biolog=
y and Diseases of the Ferret_. =
That says to me that hopefully the many effective ways to prevent gum disea=
se are being taken seriously by most FHL members with ferrets these days, =
though some individual animals will still have problems due to factors like=
personal vulnerability, diseases that increase the tendency to get gingivi=
tis, diet since many sick animals just plain need a softened diet, and perh=
aps some meds...
Gum disease in and of itself can become a serious problem.
Using enzymatic meat flavored toothpastes make specially for members of Car=
nivora, and items which scrape the teeth when the ferrets chew on them for =
tartar control are great ways to maintain gum health. There is info in the=
archives on a range of approaches, and your vet can also advise you.
Okay, back on line finally:
START QUOTE
Oral Microbiol Immunol. 1994 Feb;9(1):40-9.
Oral microflora of the ferret at the gingival sulcus and mucosa membrane in=
relation to ligature-induced periodontitis.
Fischer RG, Edwardsson S, Klinge B.
Department of Periodontology, Centre for Oral Health Sciences, Lund Univers=
ity, Malmo, Sweden.
The aim of this study was to describe, in the domestic ferret, the composit=
ion of the normal gingival sulcus and the near related mucosa microflora an=
d the shift in the composition during an acute periodontal breakdown induce=
d by the placement of ligatures. Five animals were used. At the start of th=
e experiment (day 0) and before the placement of the ligatures, 2 microbiol=
ogical samples were obtained from the gingival sulcus and the related mucos=
a at the mid-buccal surface of the right upper P4. The same sites were samp=
led on the left side, serving as control sites. On day 28, new microbiologi=
cal samples were taken from the same 4 sites. The samples were analyzed wit=
h darkfield microscopy and with viable counts. In the darkfield analysis, o=
n day 0, the predominant bacterial morphotype was cocci, ranging from 88-92=
%. The viable counts showed that nearly 100% of the total cultivable flora =
was composed of facultative anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive rods.=
Pasteurella spp., Corynebacterium spp. and Rothia spp. were the major comp=
onents of these bacterial groups. No anaerobic bacteria were detected. On d=
ay 28, cocci decreased to approximately 75% in the experimental gingival su=
lcus sample, and filaments and rods increased significantly. Spirochetes re=
mained largely unchanged during the experiment. The composition of the expe=
rimental site samples changed. There was a decrease in the mean numbers of =
facultative anaerobic gram-positive rods, and approximately one third of th=
e microflora comprised anaerobic gram-negative rods, mainly Porphyromonas g=
ingivalis and Fusobacterium spp. Although the composition of the microflora=
of the ferret presented few similarities to that described in dogs and mon=
keys, the anaerobic portion of the gingival sulcus and oral mucosa microflo=
ra related to ligature-induced periodontitis presented microorganisms obser=
ved in experimental periodontitis both in dogs and monkeys as well as in hu=
man periodontal diseases.
PMID: 7478754 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
END QUOTE
Notice the timing above... To me it possibly helps point to why gum care f=
or ferrets with tarter removers can be so very effective.
START QUOTE
J Dent Res. 1979 Aug;58(8):1812-4.
Diphenylhydantoin induced gingival hyperplasia in ferrets: a precautionary =
note.
Moore PA, Smudski JW, Hopper S.
Diphenylhydantoin appears to modify the tissue response in ferrets to a gin=
gival irritant. In the present study, ferrets were tested for the tissue re=
sponse to a local irritant in their maxillary right quadrant, while their m=
axillary left quadrant was the control. A low incidence of hyperplasia was =
induced only in irritated gingival tissue of animals receiving DPH. The pro=
blems encountered in comparing the hyperplasia produced in ferrets and huma=
ns were also discussed.
PMID: 288761 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
END QUOTE
Related:
START QUOTE
1: J Periodontol. 1976 Nov;47(11):621-35.
Host response in chronic periodontal disease. V. The dental and periodontal=
status of mink and mice affected by Chediak-Higashi syndrome.
Lavine WS, Page RC, Padgett GA.
PMID: 1068269 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
END QUOTE
There isn't much out there in the place I had enough time to check. =
Do others have some journal articles they can mention?
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private po=
sts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
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